I think Tino can handle the dog door. He loves our backyard and prefers to do his "business" out there. If he knew he had a way out and we made he dog door part of his potty routine, I'm pretty sure he would catch on quickly. I held off until now because I thought he was just too young for one thing, and also for the more practical reason that he hadnt yet mastered the stairs to/from the dog door in the hallway. How have you done it? I'm shopping for an approach. Thanks!

I'm not big on dog doors until they're housetrained. They need encouragement and reward. , which you can't do from inside the house.

__________________Dave and Molly
Ian Dunbar was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from I.P.D.T.A. Here's a picture of me accepting the award on his behalf.
Member of IAABC ,International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants , Member of Pet Professional Guild

My plan is to get him to go through the dog door, then open the door and follow him out into the yard. Once the mission is accomplished, treat him, then treat him again when he comes back in through the dog door. I will still take him out, the only difference is that he will use the dog door and, being 25 times too big for the dog door, I will continue to turn the knob.

__________________Dave and Molly
Ian Dunbar was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from I.P.D.T.A. Here's a picture of me accepting the award on his behalf.
Member of IAABC ,International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants , Member of Pet Professional Guild

I'm using the Doggy door with Doug. It's great he has only had two accidents since he has begun using it and I think that's because it was a very hot day and he wanted to stay inside. When we are at home we follow him out and give him a treat. When we haven't been home he has been using it no problems. As he is getting used to it we have made temporary steps either side to make getting in and out easier. We also have a pen set up outside so he doesn't have access to the entire yard. I can see why they wouldn't be for everyone but I'm not home everyday to be able to take him to the toilet and he doesn't really like his pad although I've left it inside in case he does decide it's too warm again to go outside. We started him using it by offering treats and calling him through. We tapped to show him it opened and it didn't take long until he was using it without us. Now when he hears me go outside through another door he runs out through his doggy door.

By the way Doug is 3 months. We have been taking a similar approach to what your saying as in treating toilet training the same as if the doggy door wasn't there but today my hubby and I both worked and had to leave him too long to be crated. I'm on my way home now to see if he was ok accidents wise. Very hot day in Sydney today 38 C. Poor little guy we left the air on to keep him cool inside so he may have used the pad instead today.

The hardest part is the first push to start opening the door. We don't have a fixed method, but sometimes you have to get creative, and always have infinite patience.

Yes I'm running into the first push problem. If the door is cracked ever so slightly he will push through. If not, it might as well be a brick wall. But I know that once he gets it, he'll really get it.